Divides
Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation authority between two Secretaries,
one with six year fixed term and one serving at pleasure of Governor.
Provides five year fixed terms for deputy secretaries.

Creates 19 member
board to direct parole and rehabilitation policy.

Fiscal Impact: Increased
state costs over time potentially exceeding $1 billion annually primarily
for expanding drug treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders
in state prisons, on parole, and in the community.

Fiscal Impact: State
savings over time potentially exceeding $1 billion annually due primarily
to reduced prison and parole operating costs.

Fiscal Impact: Net one-time
state savings on capital outlay costs for prison facilities that eventually
could exceed $2.5 billion.

What a Yes or No Vote Means

YES: A “YES” vote
on this measure means: Drug treatment diversion programs available primarily
for persons charged or convicted for a nonviolent drug possession crime
would be expanded. Some parole violators would be diverted from state prison
and parole terms would be reduced for others. New rehabilitation programs
would be expanded for offenders before and after they leave prison. Some
inmates might receive additional credits to reduce the time they stay in
state prison. Possession of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana would have
a lesser penalty than under current law.

NO: A “NO” vote on this measure means:
State and local governments would determine whether to expand existing
drug treatment diversion programs in the future. State correctional officials
would continue to have the discretion to return various categories of parole
violators to state prison, and parole terms would remain at three years
for most parolees. The state would not be obligated to further expand rehabilitation
programs for inmates, parolees, and other offenders. The current rules
for awarding credits to inmates to reduce their time in prison would continue.
The penalty for possession of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana would remain
unchanged.

Detailed information about all contributors for and against Proposition
5 is available from campaign
finance reports at Cal-Access, the Secretary of State's campaign
disclosure web site. To view the most recent contributions, select a committee
and click "Late and $5000+ Contributions Received".

This page was first published on September
27, 2008 |
Last updated on
December 21, 2008
Copyright California Voter Foundation, All Rights Reserved.